System and method for providing an adapter module

ABSTRACT

Embodiments include a system and method for adapting a wireless device, such as a Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset or other Bluetooth-enabled device to a car radio and associated speaker system to effect a hands-free car kit or similar system. The adapter module is physically and electrically coupled to the car radio by making electrical contact with a connector on the car radio with a matching connector on one side of the adapter module. The mated connectors provide communications from the adapter module to the car radio. The adapter module includes circuitry for communicating with the Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset and the car radio in order to exchange communications signals between the Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset, and a microphone and the car radio.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 60/300,842, filed Jun. 25, 2001.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to adaptersfor coupling to wireless communicating devices.

BACKGROUND

[0003] In order to participate in wireless telecommunications moreeasily while driving, many drivers have endured considerable expense interms of time, money and effort, to have a hands-free car kitprofessionally installed in their vehicles. The primary advantage to thehands-free car kit is that users can carry on a conversation withouthaving to hold a mobile handset to their ear. This frees up the handthat otherwise would have been holding the handset to perform othertasks, such as driving the car. The hands-free car kit may even provideother advantages such as superior reception and sound quality ascompared to the handset alone.

[0004] In a typical usage scenario, the user dials a phone number ontheir mobile handset to place a call, or receives a call from anotheruser. The user places the handset into a special cradle which has beencustomized for physically holding that handset and for providingelectrical connections to a microphone, speakers and possibly anantenna, as may be associated with the hands-free car kit. In manycases, the cradle and related electrical connections are adapted to onlyone handset model or a small number of closely related handsets. Thevery limited number of phones that a hands-free car kit can work withbecomes a problem when the user desires to change to a new or differentmobile phone handset. The user may want to change their handset becauseit offers better features, is associated with a different wirelessservice provider desired by the user or for any other reason.

[0005] Newer phones have historically been smaller and differentlyshaped than existing phones, again giving rise to incompatibility withpreviously installed hands-free car kits. Other concurrently offeredmobile handsets tend to have different physical and electricalcharacteristics. Previously installed hands-free car kits can bereplaced with newer or different hands-free car kits associated with areplacement handset. Unfortunately, replacement of the existinghands-free car kit would involve considerable expense in terms of time,money and effort, not only to install the replacement hands-free carkit, but to remove the existing hands-free car kit. It would bedesirable to be able to reduce the time, money and/or effort associatedwith replacing a previously installed hands-free car kit when the userreplaces the handset matching the existing hands-free car kit with anewer or different handset that is substantially incompatible theexisting hands-free car kit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of the adapter module where in oneembodiment of the present invention the adapter module is adapted tocommunicate with a modified car radio, and a Bluetooth-enabled mobilehandset substantially according to the Bluetooth specification.

[0007]FIG. 2 shows a block diagram of the adapter module and portions ofa modified car radio and electrically coupled speakers where in oneembodiment of the present invention the adapter module is adapted tocommunicate with a modified car radio, and a Bluetooth-enabled mobilehandset substantially according to the Bluetooth specification.

[0008]FIG. 3 shows a block diagram illustrating flows of voice signals,an adapter module, portions of a modified car radio and electricallycoupled speakers and two mobile wireless handsets where in oneembodiment of the present invention the adapter module is adapted tocommunicate with a modified car radio, and a Bluetooth-enabled mobilehandset substantially according to the Bluetooth specification.

[0009] In the drawings, the same reference numbers identify identical orsubstantially similar elements or acts. To easily identify thediscussion of any particular element or act, the most significant digitor digits in a reference number refer to the Figure number in which thatelement is first introduced, e.g., element 102 is first introduced anddiscussed with respect to FIG. 1.

[0010] Note that the headings provided herein are for convenience and donot necessarily affect the scope or interpretation of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0011] Aspects of the present invention overcome many of the limitationsdescribed in prior and current hands-free car kits and provideadditional benefits by creating a unique adapter for implementing a newhands-free car kit using a Bluetooth-enabled adapter module to supportBluetooth-enabled mobile handsets in combination with an existing carradio that supports cell phone voice with a built-in car cell phone orwith a standard car radio when using the addition of a module supportedmicrophone. The adapter module establishes a communications link with aBluetooth-enabled mobile handset or the like, using communicationsprotocols established under the Bluetooth standard.

[0012] In one embodiment an adapter module is used to create ahands-free car kit. The adapter module has a auxiliary radio connectorand a power connector which couple with a corresponding adapter moduleconnector on a existing/modified car radio. In an alternativeembodiment, the radio connector and the power connector are combined.The adapter module is physically configured so that it can be connectedto, and supported by, the existing/modified car radio. The matedconnectors provide power to the adapter module and unidirectionalcommunications from the adapter module to the existing/modified carradio to form a hands-free car kit. In one embodiment the adapter modulecontains a microphone connector for providing power to and receivingaudio signals from a microphone attached to the microphone connector.From the perspective of the modified car radio, the adapter moduleemulates the communication style of a compatible audio device, e.g., aradio or compact disk player (known as a “CD player”).

[0013] The adapter module contains a Bluetooth chip or chipset forcommunicating with a Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset. A “handset” isdefined herein to include any Bluetooth-enabled device used forcommunications or data processing. The Bluetooth-enabled mobile handsetmay have an integrated Bluetooth capability added during manufacture ormay be upgraded to contain the Bluetooth capability after manufacture.In any case, the adapter module exchanges digitized audio information,such as digitized spoken words, with the Bluetooth-enabled mobilehandset, thereby allowing users to carry on a conversation with a remoteuser via the hands-free car kit created by the adapter module and theirBluetooth-enabled mobile handset.

[0014] Embodiments of the present invention described herein provide anadapter module for adapting a car radio modified to accept an adaptermodule for communications with a Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset,thereby allowing all Bluetooth-enabled mobile handsets to utilize thishands-free car kit. Presently available hands-free car kits only workwith a very limited number of mobile handsets. The present inventioncreates a hands-free car kit that works with any Bluetooth-enabledmobile handset, significantly mitigating the associated costs ofacquiring a compatible hands-free car kit in terms of time, money andeffort with upgrading to any Bluetooth-enabled phone. Once an embodimentof the present invention is installed with a modified car radio, anynumber of future substitutions of different Bluetooth-enabled mobilehandsets will incur no additional cost regarding the hands-free car kit,because the hands-free car kit in combination with the modified carradio is compatible with all such Bluetooth-enabled mobile handsets andother such Bluetooth-enabled devices, to the extent they operate on acompatible Bluetooth standard. Embodiments of the present inventionthereby make it easier for a user to upgrade as often as they choose tobetter Bluetooth-enabled mobile handsets, or change to morecost-effective Bluetooth-enabled mobile handsets.

[0015] “Bluetooth” refers to a specification designed to standardizewireless transmission between a wide variety of devices, such aspersonal computers (“PCs”), cordless telephones, headsets, printers,personal digital assistants (“PDAs”), etc. Bluetooth acts as a “virtualcable,” whereby a computer can automatically use a mobiletelecommunications device (such as a mobile cell phone) to send datawirelessly, such as exchange e-mail, transmit data to a fax machine,etc. Under the Bluetooth specification, Bluetooth devices will operatein a part of the electromagnetic spectrum that in most countries,including the United States, have agreed will remain unlicensed. TheBluetooth transceiver operates in the 2.4 GHz ISM band. The Bluetoothspectrum ranges from 2.4000 GHz to 2.4835 GHz, thus yielding 83.5 MHz ofallocated bandwidth which includes a 2 MHz lower guardband, a 3.5 MHzupper guard band and 78 1 MHz channels in the available 78 MHz betweenthe guardbands for communications. Bluetooth operates using frequencyhopping spread spectrum, where data packets are spread across theBluetooth Spectrum at a nominal rate of 1,600 hops per second to lesseninterference and fading. According to the Bluetooth specification,Bluetooth devices are slated to operate their antennas, for examplehaving zero directional gain, at one of three different maximum antennapower levels, i.e., 1 mW, 2.5 mW and 100 mW. The nominal link range is10 meters, and the gross data rate is 10 Mbps, although increases may bepossible. Bluetooth can support both synchronous connection oriented(SCO) links for voice and asynchronous connectionless (ACL) links forpacket data. Generally speaking, Bluetooth communications are notdirectly compatible with most mobile wireless handset telephones in usetoday, many of which operate on code division multiple access (known as“CDMA”) or time division multiple access (known as “TDMA”) principlesthat employ different signaling protocols on different frequencies.

[0016] Details on Bluetooth may be found at http://www.Bluetooth.com,http://www.palowireless.com, “Bluetooth Revealed”, Miller & Bisdikian,Prentice Hall PTR, 2001, and “Bluetooth Demystified”, Muller,McGraw-Hill, 2001, and in particular, “Specification of the BluetoothSystem,” version 1.1:http://www.Bluetooth.com/developer/specification/specification.asp.

[0017] The following description provides specific details for athorough understanding of, and enabling description for embodiments ofthe invention. However, one skilled in the art will understand that theinvention may be practiced without these details. In other instances,well known structures and functions have not been shown or described indetail to avoid unnecessarily obscuring the description of theembodiments of the invention. While aspects of the invention aredescribed herein as employing the Bluetooth protocol, those skilled inthe relevant art will recognize that aspects of the invention areequally applicable with other communication protocols and standards,including those encompassing other short range wireless networks such asIEEE 802.11, contactless smart cards, IrDA standards, Home RF, etc.

[0018] Turning to FIG. 1, an adapter module 100 is shown. The adaptermodule 100 contains a radio connector 102 for physically andelectrically mating with a corresponding adapter module connector 104 ina modified car radio 106. The adapter module connector 104 is notrestricted to placement on any particular portion of the car radio. Theadapter module connector 104 may be positioned on a side of the carradio proximal to the user (such as the front for easy userconnectability), distal to the user (such as on the back and in the dashfor a less cluttered front appearance), or any other side. In analternative embodiment the adapter module 104 is inserted into the carradio. In another alternative embodiment, the adapter module 104 isconnected to car components behind the dash which integrate with anaudio IN/OUT of the car for interaction with various in-car systems. Inyet another alternative embodiment, the adapter module 104 is integratedinto the main connection point for all in-car systems i.e. a wiringharness. Note that the present invention is not limited to electricalcommunications; other forms of communications, such as opticalcommunications are also envisioned. The radio connector 102 is alsoconnected to car radio communications logic 108. The car radiocommunications logic 108 contains circuitry for receiving digitizedvoice signals and transmitting digitized or analog voice signals,depending on the type of car radio being used, to the modified car radio106 through the mated radio connector 102 and adapter module connector104.

[0019] The car radio communications logic 108 is adapted forcommunication with a particular car radio or set of car radios. Thenumber of different adapter modules 100 corresponds to the number ofdifferent car radio communication styles. The car radio communicationslogic 108 exchanges voice signals with voice codec logic 110 whichconverts the voice signals into an encoded speech format for exchangewith a radio signaling codec 112 portion of Bluetooth logic 114. In oneembodiment, the voice codec logic 110 converts outgoing analog voicesignals into a digital form before converting them into an encodedspeech format. The radio signaling codec 112 exchanges the voice signalswith the voice codec logic 110 and Bluetooth logic 114. The radiosignaling codec 112 exchanges a bit stream of digitized voice signalswith the Bluetooth logic 114.

[0020] Analogous to the car radio communications logic 108, theBluetooth logic 114 contains circuitry for wirelessly exchangingdigitized voice signals with an external device, e.g., theBluetooth-enabled mobile handset, substantially according to theBluetooth specification. The Bluetooth logic 114 may perform encryptionand decryption of the voice signals under the Bluetooth specificationfor wireless communications. The Bluetooth logic 114 is operativelyconnected to an antenna suitable for communications under Bluetoothspecification that may be internal or external to the adapter module.Bluetooth chips and/or chipsets are expected to be available incommercial quantities from Ericsson (Sweden), Motorola (Illinois), andNokia (Finland), among others. The car radio communications logic 108,the voice codec logic 110, the radio signaling codec 112, the Bluetoothlogic 114 and a user control interface 116 are connected to andcontrolled by control logic 118. The control logic 118 includes acentral processing unit (known as a “CPU”) and memory 120, which in oneembodiment is flash memory. The user control interface 116 includesbuttons, LEDs and associated drivers and logic to receive input from theuser and display status conditions back to the user, in general, toprovide the interface between the user and the adapter module 100. Forexample, the user control interface 116 indicates successful adaptermodule 100 and hands-free car kit mating, power on-off and theestablishment of communications with a Bluetooth-enabled mobile handsetor other device. In one embodiment the user control interface 116 ishidden behind or under a vehicle dashboard.

[0021] The adapter module 100 receives its electrical power through apower connector 122. The power connector is connected to an electricalpower source made available from a car radio power connector 124 addedto the modified radio 106 (or provided elsewhere in the car, such as viaa cigarette lighter socket). Electrical power received from the modifiedcar radio 106 through mated or coupled radio power connector 124 and thepower connector 122 is distributed within the adapter module 100 towhere electrical power is needed inside the adapter module 100. Theadapter module 100 contains a microphone connector 126 for electricallycoupling with an external microphone 128. Electrical power passesthrough the microphone connector through a microphone cable 130 to themicrophone 128 and voice signals are returned back from the microphone128 through the microphone cable 130 and through the microphoneconnector 126 to the car radio communications logic 108. The microphone128 may be mounted on a dashboard, near a visor or in any otherconvenient places in the user's car.

[0022] Voice signals from a remote user are transmitted from themodified car radio 106 to a speaker system for the audio output to theuser, as explained below. In another embodiment, the adapter module 100is not limited to voice signals, but is adapted to exchange voice and/ordata signals, e.g., for exchanging data with other parts or contents ofthe vehicle capable of exchanging data.

[0023] The user, or others, can easily install the adapter module 100into the modified car radio 106 by bringing the adapter module 100 intoproximity with the modified car radio 106 with the radio connector 102facing the adapter module connector 104 and pushing the adapter module100 closer to the modified car radio 106 until a physical and electricalconnection between the connectors 102, 104 is made, resulting in theconnectors 102, 204 being mated. The adapter module connector 102 isbrought into alignment with the adapter module connector 104 in orderfor mating to occur.

[0024] The present invention is not limited to any one particularembodiment for ensuring that the connectors 102, 104 are properlyaligned in order to be mated. For example, the adapter module 100 may bephysically keyed so that misorientation is not possible, likewise, theconnectors 102, 104 may also be keyed. The connectors may also be madesymmetrical so orientation is less important. Markings can be placed onthe surface of the adapter module 100, and corresponding instructionsincluded in an accompanying manual, to guide the user in making a properconnection. In one embodiment one or more small lights, such as an lightemitting diode (known as an “LED”) is controlled by the user controlinterface 116 in the adapter module 100 and placed on a surface of theadapter module 100 facing the interior of the vehicle. One of the smalllights indicates that a proper connection has been made and the setup isworking. Another small light indicates that communications between theadapter module 200 and a Bluetooth-enabled device has been established.

[0025] By way of example, in one embodiment, a user driving her vehiclemay make a phone call to or accept a phone call from a friend on theuser's Bluetooth-enabled mobile telephone handset. The user's voiceresponse is picked up by the microphone 128 and operatively coupled tothe adapter module 100. The microphone 128 transmits the voice signalsthrough the microphone cable 130 and connector 126 to the car radiocommunications logic 108. The car radio communications logic 108 passesthe digitized voice signals to the voice codec logic 110, which in turncreates encoded speech with the voice signals, and passes the voicesignals to the radio signaling codec 112 portion of the Bluetooth logic114. The radio signaling codec 112 translates the encoded voice signalsinto a bit stream representation and sends the voice signals to theBluetooth logic 114 under control of the control logic 118. TheBluetooth logic 114 takes the digitized voice signals and passes themwirelessly, and substantially according to the Bluetooth specification,to the user's Bluetooth-enabled handset, which transmits the digitizedvoice signals to the user's friend via the wireless and possibly othernetworks to the friend's telephone.

[0026] The friend vocally responds to the user and the friend's voice istransmitted to the user's Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset. TheBluetooth-enabled mobile handset passes the friend's digitized voicesignals to the Bluetooth logic 114 in the adapter module 100substantially according to the Bluetooth specification. The Bluetoothlogic 114 passes the digitized voice signals to the radio signalingcodec 112 portion of the Bluetooth logic 114 in a bit stream format. Theradio signaling codec 112 transforms the voice signal bit stream into anencoded voice signal format passes the voice signals to the voice codec110. The voice codec receives the encoded voice signals and translatesthose signals into an analog or digital format as may be compatible withthe modified car radio 106 and transmits the audio signals to the carradio communications logic 108. In one embodiment, the car radiocommunications logic 108 transmits the digitized voice signals throughthe radio connector 102 in the format expected by the modified car radio106. The modified car radio 106 transmits the voice signals to thespeaker system 132 to enable to hear the friend.

[0027] In one embodiment of the present invention illustrated in FIG. 2,an adapter module 100 is shown. As described herein, the adapter module100 contains the radio connector 102 for physically and electricallymating with a corresponding adapter module connector 104 in the modifiedcar radio 106. Signals are transmitted in a unidirectional fashion fromthe adapter module 100 to the modified car radio 106 via the matedconnectors 102, 104. The modified car radio 106 is modified from someother car radios in the sense that the adapter module connector 102 hasbeen added to the modified car radio 106. In one embodiment, themodified car radio 106 also includes a radio power connector 124 fortransmitting electrical power to the adapter module 100. In anotherembodiment, the adapter module 100 receives its electrical power fromelsewhere in the vehicle. A mute mux 200 is included in the modified carradio 106. The mute mux 200 is a multiplexer capable of being controlledby a mux control signal over a control line 202. In one embodiment themux control signal is transmitted from the control logic 118 in theadapter module 100 over the control line 202. The mux control signalcauses the car radio 106 to transmit voice signals from the adaptermodule 100 to the speaker system 132 by switching the mute mux outputfrom a car radio 106 audio output to the adapter module 100 audiooutput. In this fashion the adapter module 100 controls the audio outputof the modified car radio 106 and the speaker system 132 to switch from,e.g. outputting music to outputting the friend's conversation, andthereby create a hands-free car kit compatible with Bluetooth-enableddevices.

[0028] An illustrative view of the paths taken by the voice signals inone embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. In FIG. 3,the user's Bluetooth-enabled handset 300 is engaged in wirelesscommunications with a remote handset 302, which may or may not beBlue-tooth enabled. Voice signals received by the user's handset 300take a first path 304, while voice signals generated by the user take asecond path. For example, signals transmitted by the remote handset 302are received by the user's Bluetooth-enabled handset 300 and transmittedthrough the adapter module 100 as described herein to the modified carradio 106 and finally to the speaker system 132 for audio output to theuser. Voice signals generated by the user are received by the microphone128 and transmitted through the adapter module 100 as described hereinto the user's Bluetooth-enabled handset 302. The user'sBluetooth-enabled handset 302 transmits the voice signals to the remoteuser's handset 302 for audio reproduction to the remote user. Thusdescribed herein is a system and method enabling the user to employtheir Bluetooth-enabled mobile wireless handset 300 in a hands-freemanner in a vehicle for communication with a remote user. In anotherembodiment, control signals are transmitted to the car radio 106 tocontrol various functions in the car radio 106 in addition to the mutemux 200.

[0029] The advantages of the present invention combine to overcome ormitigate a number of shortcomings of prior hands-free car kits as wellas provide additional benefits. For example, embodiments of the presentinvention overcome the problem of users trying to hold their wirelesshandsets while driving, without installing a current hands-free car kit.This allows any Bluetooth-enabled handset to communicate through theadapter module to the vehicle's speaker system. Embodiments of thepresent invention mitigate the problem of the associated time, money andeffort required associated with replacing incompatible hands-free carkits by providing an adapter module for a modified car radio to create ahands-free car kit so it no longer requires replacement forBluetooth-enabled devices each time they have acquired, or wish toacquire, a new Bluetooth-enabled mobile handset, by giving suchincompatible car kits a Bluetooth communications capability with theadapter module. In one embodiment it is expected that users couldquickly and easily install the adapter module by connecting it intomodified car radio. It is also expected that the adapter module will beconsiderably less expensive than replacing a hands-free car kit, therebyreducing the amount of time, money and effort required to gain acompatible hands-free car kit for their Bluetooth-enabled handset.

[0030] Those skilled in the relevant art will appreciate that whileadapter modules are described herein in combination with Bluetoothcommunications, the invention may employ any wireless communicationstandard or device. Such a standard or device may have lessfunctionality and be cheaper to implement than the described adaptermodule. Aspects of the invention can be embodied in a special purposecomputer or data processor that is specifically programmed, configured,or constructed to perform one or more of the computer-executableinstructions explained in detail herein. Indeed, the term “adaptermodule”, as used generally herein, refers to any of the above devices,as well as to any data processor. The terms “car radio” or “modified carradio” apply to any audio device attached to a vehicle for carryingpeople. Data structures and transmission of data particular to aspectsof the invention are also encompassed within the scope of the invention.In general, while hardware platforms such as stationary and mobiledevices are described herein, aspects of the invention are equallyapplicable to nodes on the network having corresponding resourcelocators to identify such nodes.

[0031] Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout thedescription and the claims, the words “comprise,” “comprising,” and thelike are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to anexclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say, in a sense of “including,but not limited to.” Words using the singular or plural number alsoinclude the plural or singular number respectively. Additionally, thewords “herein,” “hereunder,” “above”, “below,” and words of similarimport, when used in this application, shall refer to this applicationas a whole and not to any particular portions of this application.

[0032] The above detailed descriptions of embodiments of the inventionare not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to theprecise form disclosed above. While specific embodiments of, andexamples for, the invention are described above for illustrativepurposes, various equivalent modifications are possible within the scopeof the invention, as those skilled in the relevant art will recognize.The teachings of the invention provided herein can be applied to othersystems, not necessarily the system described herein. The variousembodiments described herein can be combined to provide furtherembodiments. These and other changes can be made to the invention inlight of the detailed description.

[0033] All of the above references and U.S. patents and applications areincorporated herein by reference. Aspects of the invention can bemodified, if necessary, to employ the systems, functions and concepts ofthe various patents and applications described above to provide yetfurther embodiments of the invention.

[0034] These and other changes can be made to the invention in light ofthe above detailed description. In general, the terms used in thefollowing claims, should not be construed to limit the invention to thespecific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the abovedetailed description explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, theactual scope of the invention encompasses the disclosed embodiments andall equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the invention underthe claims.

[0035] While certain aspects of the invention are presented below incertain claim forms, the inventors contemplate the various aspects ofthe invention in any number of claim forms. For example, while only oneaspect of the invention is recited as embodied in a computer-readablemedium, other aspects may likewise be embodied in a computer-readablemedium. Accordingly, the inventors reserve the right to add additionalclaims after filing the application to pursue such additional claimforms for other aspects of the invention.

[0036] Incorporated by reference herein are all above references,patents, or applications and the following U.S. patent applications,which are assigned to the assignee of this application: patentapplication Ser. No. ______ entitled, Apparatus For Providing Power AndWireless Protocol Capability To A Mobile Device, Such As A WirelessPhone, filed ______, 2001 (attorney docket no. 10194-8003US); and patentapplication Ser. No. ______, entitled, System and Method For ProvidingAn Adapter Module, filed ______, 2001 (attorney docket no.10194-8004US).

We claim:
 1. A system for use with a Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset and a car radio, the car radio having an auxiliary connector, comprising: an adapter module, the adapter module further comprising: Bluetooth logic substantially compatible with at least one Bluetooth standard to wirelessly exchange communication signals with the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset, car radio communications logic substantially compatible with the car radio to transmit communication signals to the car radio, the Bluetooth logic being communicatively coupled to the car radio communications logic to exchange communication signals, a radio connector configured to couple with the auxiliary connector, the radio connector being adapted to transfer communication signals from the adapter module, through the auxiliary connector, to the car radio, and wherein the Bluetooth logic, car radio communications logic and radio connector are configured to permit hands-free communications with the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset.
 2. The system of claim 1 wherein the adapter module further comprises: a user control interface, the user control interface controlling at least one LED to indicate a state of the adapter module, and control logic, the control logic having memory and being communicatively coupled to the Bluetooth logic, the car radio communications logic and the user control interface, wherein the control logic provides control signals to the Bluetooth logic and the car radio communications logic to control the exchange of communication signals between the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset and the car radio.
 3. An enhanced vehicle, comprising: a vehicle, the vehicle capable of moving occupants, an vehicle radio, the vehicle radio coupled to the vehicle, an adapter module, the adapter module coupled to the vehicle radio the adapter module further comprising: Bluetooth logic substantially compatible with at least one Bluetooth standard capable of exchanging communication signals with a Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset, vehicle radio communications logic substantially compatible with the audio deck to transmit communication signals to the vehicle radio, wherein the Bluetooth logic is communicatively coupled to the vehicle radio communications logic to exchange communication signals with the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset and transmits communication signals to the vehicle radio.
 4. The vehicle of claim 3, wherein the adapter module further comprises: a user control interface, the user control interface controlling at least one LED to indicate a state of the adapter module, control logic, the control logic having memory and being communicatively coupled to the Bluetooth logic, the vehicle radio communications logic and the user control interface, wherein the control logic provides control signals to the Bluetooth logic and the vehicle radio communications logic to control the exchange of communication signals between the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset and the vehicle radio.
 5. An adapter module for use with a car radio and a wireless device wherein the wireless device has a primary wireless communications capability for communicating with other wireless devices and secondary wireless communications capability, the adapter module comprising: wireless transceiver circuitry, the wireless transceiver circuitry being substantially compatible with the wireless device's secondary communications capability to exchange communication signals with the wireless device under the secondary communications capability; and car radio communications logic, the car radio communications logic being configured to be substantially compatible with the car radio to transmit signals to the car radio, the car radio communications logic being operatively coupled to the wireless transceiver circuitry to receive communication signals from the wireless transceiver circuitry.
 6. The system of claim 5 wherein the wireless handset's primary wireless communications capability and secondary wireless communications capability operate according to incompatible signaling principles.
 7. The system of claim 5 wherein the wireless handset's primary wireless communications capability and secondary wireless communications capability operate according to compatible signaling principles.
 8. The system of claim 7 wherein the compatible signaling principles are specified according to a standard.
 9. The system of claim 5 wherein the wireless device's secondary wireless communications capability operates substantially according to IEEE 802.11.
 10. The system of claim 5 wherein the wireless device's secondary wireless communications capability operates substantially according to a Bluetooth standard.
 11. The system of claim 5 wherein the wireless device's secondary wireless communications capability operates substantially as a short range wireless network.
 12. The system of claim 5 wherein the wireless device's secondary wireless communications capability operates substantially according to at least one standard associated with contactless smart cards.
 13. The system of claim 5 wherein the wireless device's secondary wireless communications capability operates substantially according to at least one IrDA standard.
 14. The system of claim 5 wherein the wireless device's secondary wireless communications capability operates substantially according to a Home RF standard.
 15. A system for adapting a car radio having an auxiliary connector, for communications with a Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset, comprising: an adapter module, the adapter module further comprising: Bluetooth communication means for wirelessly exchanging communication signals with the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset, car radio communications means for transmitting communication signals to the car radio, the Bluetooth communication means being communicatively coupled to the car radio communications means for transmitting communication signals from the Bluetooth communication means to the car radio communications means.
 16. The system of claim 15 wherein the adapter module further comprises control means for providing control signals to the Bluetooth communication means and the car radio communications means for controlling the transmission of communication signals from the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset to the car radio, and wherein the control means stores information from at least one of the Bluetooth communication means, the car radio communications means and the control means.
 17. A system for adapting a car radio for hands-free communications with a Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset, comprising: an adapter module, the adapter module further comprising Bluetooth communication means for exchanging communication signals with the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset, car radio communication means for receiving communication signals from a microphone means and transmitting communication signals to the car radio, the Bluetooth communication means being communicatively coupled to the car radio communications means for exchanging communication signals between the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset and the car radio.
 18. The system of claim 17 wherein the adapter module further comprises control means for providing control signals to the Bluetooth communication means and the car radio communications means for controlling the transmission of communication signals from the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset to the car radio, and wherein the control means stores information from at least one of the Bluetooth communication means, the car radio communications means and the control means.
 19. A method of adapting a car radio for communications with a Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset, comprising: receiving communication signals from the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset; converting the communication signals from a first form used by used by the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset to a second form used by the car radio; and transmitting the communications signals in the second form to the car radio.
 20. A computer-readable medium whose contents are capable of causing control logic in an adapter module to perform a method to adapt a hands-free car kit for communications with a Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset, the method comprising: receiving communication signals from the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset with Bluetooth logic; passing the communication signals from the Bluetooth logic to the car radio communications logic; converting the communication signals from a first form used by the Bluetooth-enabled wireless handset to a second form used by the car radio; and transmitting the communications signals in the second form to the car radio.
 21. A modified car radio for creating hands-free communication in a vehicle having a short-range wireless network-enabled adapter module, comprising: a connector, the connector being attached to the modified car radio and configured to be substantially compatible with the short-range wireless network-enabled adapter module, a car radio, and a mute multiplexer coupled to the car radio, the mute multiplexer having a plurality of inputs and an output, one of the plurality of inputs being coupled to communication signals derived from the short-range wireless network-enabled mobile handset for selection by the mute multiplexer for transmission from the output.
 22. The modified car radio of claim 21, further comprising a power connector integral with the car radio for providing electrical power from the car radio.
 23. The modified car radio of claim 21, further comprising a vehicle, the vehicle capable of moving occupants, the vehicle coupled to the modified car radio.
 24. The modified car radio of claim 21, further comprising a microphone, the microphone being operatively coupled to the adapter module.
 25. The modified car radio of claim 21 wherein the mute multiplexer comprises at least one switch.
 26. The modified car radio of claim 21 wherein the adapter module is adaptable to provide signals to the car radio to adjust sound levels produced by the car radio. 27 The modified car radio of claim 21 wherein the modified car radio is adapted to receive data signals from the short-range wireless network-enabled adapter module.
 28. The modified car radio of claim 21 wherein the modified car radio is adapted to transmit data signals to the short-range wireless network-enabled adapter module.
 29. The system of claim 21 wherein the communication signals derived from the short-range wireless network-enabled mobile handset are received substantially according to IEEE 802.11.
 30. The system of claim 21 wherein the communication signals derived from the short-range wireless network-enabled mobile handset are received substantially according to a Bluetooth standard.
 31. The system of claim 21 wherein the communication signals derived from the short-range wireless network-enabled mobile handset are received substantially according to at least one IrDA standard. 